G36 Successor: Let the games begin

The political discussion has been going on for some time, starting with the scrutiny of the G36. Now, the specific tender is added, in which the new assault rifle for the Bundeswehr is defined. HERE you can find the whole tender, these are the core requirements for the new weapon:

1. Version assault rifle "Long barrel" and assault rifle "Short barrel" (conversion must be possible by changing the barrel).
2. Length of short-barrel assault rifle without signature suppressor maximum 900 mm.
3. Length of long-barrel assault rifle without signature suppressor maximum 1,000 mm.
4. Caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO or 7.62 x 51 NATO.
5. Ambidextrous operation.
6. STANAG 4694 rails on handguard underside and weapon top side.
7. Use in areas with climate categories A1-3, B1-3, C0-3 and M1-3 according to STANAG 4370 without functionality restrictions (except electrical components).
8. Housing lifetime at least 30,000 shots; barrel lifetime at least 15,000 shots (soft core ammunition or double core)/7,500 shots (hard core ammunition).
9. Maximum 3.6 kg total weight without magazine and optics.
10. Accessories in various quantities: bayonet with sheath and carrying device, signature suppressor with transport bag, blank firing attachment, training bolt, drum magazine, weapon cleaning devices, cartridge collecting bag, STANAG 4694 rail for side mounting, cover for STANAG rails, muzzle caps, magazines, bipod, loading aid, sling, emergency sights, transport bags, angled foregrip.
11. Spare parts initial set. Optional accessories: shot counter evaluation unit, magazine pouches for 2 magazines.

So far, so formal. The tender started on April 19, and candidates must be submitted by May 22, 2017. The decision will then be made in 2018. Whoever gets the contract will deliver weapons worth 245 million euros to the Bundeswehr between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026. The fairly safe candidates so far are Heckler & Koch with the HK433, Steyr-Rheinmetall with the RS556 – the FireArms Blog has mounted these two weapons together with the German flag in the image – , and SIG Sauer with the MCX. There is a rumor that Beretta could compete with the ARX-100/200. By the end of May, we will all be wiser ...

First insights in any case: the caliber discussion is open, with 5.56 and 7.62 being in demand. 300 Blackout, popular with special forces, will not be considered. Associated optics are not part of this tender. The federal government is budgeting around 2,000 euros per weapon. And whether the HK416A5, which is currently being successfully introduced in France, is out of the running is not entirely clear.

Two of the potential candidates have already been introduced on SPARTANAT: HECKLER & KOCH HK433 on SPARTANAT 

RHEINMETALL RS556 on SPARTANAT 

More to come …